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§ Private Profile · Menlo Park, CA, USA
LeoLabs is a technology company.
LeoLabs builds and operates a global network of ground-based radars to provide persistent orbital intelligence for objects in low Earth orbit. Its core product is an advanced space situational awareness platform that detects, tracks, and characterizes satellites and orbital debris with high resolution. This proprietary radar technology enables the company to deliver comprehensive data and analytics critical for space operations.
The company was founded in 2016 by Dan Ceperley, Ed Lu, and John Buonocore, emerging as a spin-off from SRI International. The founders recognized the escalating challenge of orbital congestion and the imperative for precise tracking of even small objects in LEO. Their collective expertise, including Dr. Lu's background as a former NASA astronaut and physicist, informed their approach to address this growing need.
LeoLabs serves commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and other entities involved in space operations. The company’s vision is to ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of space by providing an authoritative and comprehensive picture of the LEO environment. Through its continuous monitoring, LeoLabs empowers its customers to navigate an increasingly complex orbital domain responsibly and securely.
LeoLabs has raised $140.0M across 5 funding rounds.
LeoLabs has raised $140.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
LeoLabs has raised $140.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
LeoLabs's investors include Per Roman, Dylan Taylor, 1941, Dolby Family Ventures, Insight Partners, MDSV Capital, Space Capital, Velvet Sea Ventures, GP Bullhound, FundersClub, LombardStreet Ventures, Novum Capital Partners.
LeoLabs is a private space technology company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, specializing in persistent Orbital Intelligence for low Earth orbit (LEO) operations.[1][3][4] It builds a proliferated radar network, real-time orbital data catalog, and AI-powered analytics platform that enables military space commands, civil government agencies, and commercial operators to detect, track, characterize, and respond to space threats, streamlining satellite launches, monitoring, and space traffic management (STM).[2][3][5] Serving satellite operators, commercial enterprises, federal agencies like the U.S. Space Force, and allied nations, LeoLabs solves critical problems in Space Domain Awareness (SDA), such as collision avoidance and secure operations amid surging LEO activity.[1][2][5] The company demonstrated strong growth momentum with 140% year-over-year revenue growth in 2024, securing over $50M in contracts—including a $4M award from SpaceWERX—and plans further radar expansions and AI innovations in 2025.[2][6]
LeoLabs emerged in 2016 as a spinout from SRI International, a renowned research institute, leveraging expertise in radar and space technologies to address the growing congestion in LEO.[1][4] While specific founders are not detailed in available sources, the company was established amid the boom in satellite constellations, with early focus on integrating GIS, spatial analytics, Earth observation, and sensors to provide comprehensive space operations support.[1][4] Pivotal early traction came from building a global radar network and real-time tracking capabilities, positioning it as a key player for governments and enterprises; by 2024, under new CEO Tony Frazier (joined March 2024), it accelerated with record contracts and a sharpened national security emphasis.[2]
LeoLabs rides the explosive growth of LEO mega-constellations (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb) and rising space activity, where launches and spacecraft are surging into 2025, heightening collision risks and security needs.[2] Its timing aligns perfectly with escalating national security demands for SDA amid geopolitical tensions and commercial space expansion, bolstered by U.S. government initiatives like SpaceWERX funding.[2][6] Market forces favoring LeoLabs include proliferated radar tech enabling persistent intelligence—critical as orbital debris and threats proliferate—while influencing the ecosystem by providing the "living map of space activity" that safeguards Earth-based assets and enables dynamic operations for all stakeholders.[2][3][5]
LeoLabs is primed to dominate Orbital Intelligence with 2025 milestones like new radars online, AI analytic tools, and expanded customer reach amid LEO's continued surge.[2] Trends shaping its path include AI-driven space analytics, U.S.-allied SDA investments, and STM mandates, potentially evolving its influence from mission partner to indispensable infrastructure for secure space access.[2][5] As the go-to for threat response in a crowded orbit, LeoLabs exemplifies how radar innovation turns space risks into operational advantages, revolutionizing LEO missions worldwide.[3]
LeoLabs has raised $140.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $29.0M Series B Extension in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 2024 | $29M Series B Plus | PER Roman | Dylan Taylor, 1941, Dylan Taylor, Dolby Family Ventures, Insight Partners, Mdsv Capital, Space Capital, Velvet SEA Ventures | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2024 | $29M Series U | GP Bullhound | FundersClub, LombardStreet Ventures, Novum Capital Partners, Seraphim Space, Space Capital, Y Combinator, Bart Swanson, Dylan Taylor, Nick Sinai, 1941, AngelList, Dolby Family Ventures, Insight Partners, Mdsv Capital, Velvet SEA Ventures | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2021 | $65M Series B | Nick Sinai, John Giampetroni | FundersClub, LombardStreet Ventures, Y Combinator | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2018 | $13M Series A | Julien Etaix, Tadashi Takiguchi | Novum Capital Partners, Seraphim Space, Space Capital, Bart Swanson, Dylan Taylor, Nick Sinai, Horizons Ventures | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2017 | $4M Seed | — | Novum Capital Partners, Pitchdrive, Seraphim Space, Space Capital, Bart Swanson, Nick Sinai, Toon Coppens, Airbus Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Manish Kothari | Announced |